Ontario party leaders on Monday evening debated key issues like taxes, tariff threats, housing and the economy ahead of the February 27 election.
Progressive Conservative leader and Premier Doug Ford squared off against NDP leader Marit Stiles, Liberal leader Bonnie Crombie and Green leader Mike Schreiner —- who were all in lockstep on the majority of the issues.
Ford conversely spent the evening differentiating himself and the Conservatives from the leaders of the leftist parties on stage.
The debate, hosted by the CBC’s David Common, who was joined by Colin D’Mello of Global News and Siobhan Morris of CTV, consisted of some questions surrounding key voter issues, but also included softball questions like “what was your first job and what did it teach you” and “where do you go when you have the weekend off?”
Crombie answered the latter question to admit she “lied about [her] age” when she was 14 to land her first job.
Healthcare is a core issue in the Ontario election, with Ford’s contesters promising to simultaneously increase wages for medical professionals, while cutting taxes.
All party leaders cited a healthcare crisis in the province, with avid discussion of “investing” in doctors, hospital beds and equipment to deal with the staggering shortage. Leaders on the left repeatedly cited the “2.2 million Ontarians who don’t have a family doctor” and the 22-hour average wait time for emergency care in Hamilton.
There was however no mention of the mass immigration over the last several years that has dramatically stressed the healthcare system.
“I will pay doctors, nurses and PSWs better,” promised Crombie. She called Ford’s track record on healthcare a “visible failure” and claimed 11,000 people in the province have “died waiting for healthcare.”
Stiles, who currently leads the official opposition party, also promised she would take better care of doctors and healthcare workers — “not take them to court or freeze their wages.”
During and in the aftermath of COVID-19 multiple Ontario doctors and nurses were taken to court, were suspended or lost their medical licenses due to speaking out against government authorities by opposing lockdowns and mask and vaccine mandates.
Ford retorted he has a concrete plan to tackle healthcare in the province with the help of former Liberal MP Jane Philpott, who along with Jody Wilson-Raybould called out Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for his corruption surrounding SNC-Lavalin in 2019 — and lost her job over it.
As for cost of living, the NDP promises more social programs including a “grocery rebate.” Stiles promised to appoint a “consumer watchdog” to prevent “price gouging” in supermarkets. She also called for rent control.
Crombie a second time promised, “I’m going to cut your taxes.”
“Yes, your income taxes. And you and you will pay 22% less on the first $75,000.”
She also promised the Liberals would charge no carbon tax, and take the HST tax off home heating and hydro.
“I will build homes that are more affordable, because we're going to take off those hidden taxes, and there will be no tax on carbon,” said Crombie.
“We will double the ODSP (Ontario Disability Support Program) for people living with this disabilities. We also phase in rent controls and we're going to look at auto insurance premiums. They're out of check.”
Ford retorted his government after seven years in power has “never increased taxes.”
“I don’t believe in taxing people, and I’ll never take money out of your pockets,” said Ford, adding he has increased ODSP for inflation since 2018.
Everyone else on stage scoffed at Ford’s remarks.
Ford responded that Crombie, former mayor of Mississauga, was an ineffective mayor and would be the same as premier.
“At one time, Mississauga was well-run — until Bonnie Crombie came along,” said Ford.
Other issues that arose during the debate were youth crime, where Ford slammed the provincial and federal Liberals for their “catch-and-release” policies, and infrastructure.
“I believe they should be thrown in jail,” said Ford of repeat violent offenders.
“There's consequences. When you start terrorizing neighborhoods, and that's what we're seeing.”
Crombie replied the Liberals are “going to be really tough on repeat offenders.”
Ford during the debate doubled down on his idea to build a tunnel under Toronto's busiest highway, the 401, to deal with urban congestion — and idea vehemently opposed as a pipe dream by the other three leaders.
Ford also faced heat for his plans to build what his opponents called a “$2.2 billion foreign-owned spa subsidized by taxpayers” to replace the historic Ontario Place in Toronto, and his openness to building housing on the Greenbelt.